Vane type rotary motor for gun



Aug. 11, 1964 S. ALTSCHULER ETAL VANE TYPE ROTARY MOTOR FOR GUN 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 51, 1952 r m ww .l. n m U a Nhd E w 11L F HE anum: a m B Aug. 11, 1964 s. ALTSCHULER ETAL 3,143,922

VANE TYPE ROTARY MOTOR FOR GUN Filed May 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TORS Samuel .Hlischuler BYLLL a l-ua F. Ricfan our United StatesPatent 3,143,922 VANE TYPE RGTARY MOTOR FDR GUN Samuel Altschuler,Woodland Hills, Calif, and Wayne F.

Ridenour, Chicago, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to the UnitedStates of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed May31, 1962, Ser. No. 199,581 4 flaims. (Cl. 89-12) This invention relatesto a vane type internal powder gas motor for an automatic gun firingrocket type ammunition and more particularly to a motor for acceleratingand maintaining velocity in an automatic gun of the type having acluster of concentrically arranged barrels which rotate continuouslyduring firing, the barrels being rotated only by the internal powdergases generated within the said barrels.

The present invention is designed to accomplish this rotation moreefficiently than heretofore and consists of a stationary housing inwhich a rotor carrying the barrels is operated by the action of thepowder gases in passing into multiple chambers and blocked by multiplevanes attached to the housing and cooperating with the rotor. A pair ofslipper valves control the flow of the powder gases which aredistributed by a manifold into multiple ports leading into the multiplechambers.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a gas motor foraccelerating and maintaining velocity in an automatic gun entirely bythe combustion gases generated in the barrels thereof.

It is another object to provide a gas operated motor which is simple ofconstruction yet highly eflicient in operation.

It is still another object to provide a motor for rotating the barrelcluster of an automatic gun that is compact and has relatively fewmoving parts.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as thespecification develops, reference is made to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the forward portion of anautomatic gun, the gas motor of the invention being illustrated in axialsection;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross section, similar to FIG. 3 and showing a modified formof valve arrangement; and FIG. 6 is an axial section taken along line 66of FIG. 5, the barrel cluster being omitted.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates generally a portion of anautomatic gun having an outer housing 2, a cluster of gun barrels 3 ofwhich 5 are shown mounted for rotation within housing 2. Means areprovided for supporting barrels 3 and consists at this portion of thelauncher, of a retaining block 4 which is mounted for rotation on acentral shaft 5 and is fixed for rotation therewith by suitable meanssuch as a key 6. Other supports for the cluster (not shown) aredistributed along the gun as required.

The gas motor of the invention is indicated generally at 7 and consistsof a stationary housing indicated generally at 8. Stationary housing 8consists of an annular manifold 9, intermediate flange 10, a fixedhousing 11 and an end flange 12. Fixed housing 11 is secured betweenflanges and 12 by bolts 11a. A rotor, generally indicated by 13encircles block 4 and is provided with a series of integral bosses 14 ofwhich fiive are shown and they are arranged on the outer peripheralsurface of rotor section taken along line 4-4 of 13 in symmetricallyspaced relation. provided with beveled edges 15 and 16.

Sealing means are provided between the outer surfaces of each boss 14and the inner peripheral surface of housing 11 and consists of a wiper17 contained in a recess 18 in each boss.

Between the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 13 and the innerperipheral surface of housing 11, there is formed an annular chamber 19which is inclosed by the Walls of flanges 10 and 12.

Chamber 19 is divided into a series of five smaller symmetrically spacedchambers 20 and a series of five symmetrically spaced large recesses 21in housing 11 as best seen in FIG. 2.

Chamber 19, smaller chambers 20 and large recesses 21 form a gas chambersystem which is normally partitioned off by a series of five vanes 22which are pivotally mounted one each as at 23 to seat in a respectiverecess 21 and are biased inwardly by a spring 24. Each vane 22 has afrontal curved wall 25 which slides on a mating curved surface 26 in thefrontal wall of recess 21. Each vane 22 is provided with a slider 27integral with the bottom of its frontal wall 25 and adapted to slide onthe outer peripheral surface of rotor 13 and over bosses 14 with bevelededges 15 and 16, being held in close contact therewith by springs 24.

Manifold 9 is in communication with small chambers 20 by fire ports 28and each of the fire gun barrels 3 is in communication with manifold 9by ports 29, 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d respectively.

Rotor 13 is provided with a pair of large ports 30 and 36a (see FIG. 3).These ports are normally closed by slipper valves 31 and 32 hinged toflange 10 as at 33.

Slipper valves 31 and 32 are normally urged in their closed position byplungers 34 and 35 which are biased by springs 36 in housings 37.

Vent openings are provided in the outer portion of flange 12 as at 38.(See FIG. 4.)

As the rotor 13 rotates, slider 27 will ride up on beveled edge 16 ofboss 14 to assume a position whereby it closes off a port 23 to trap thegases in its respective partition of the chamber system, and as the boss14 continues to rotate, slider 27 will ride down the beveled edge 15 andport is opened again to admit more gas.

The operational sequence of the gas motor with the slipper valves is asfollows:

When the firing circuit of the automatic gun (not shown) is closed, theround (also not shown) in tube 3, in position I (see FIG. 3) is closed,a portion of the resulting powder gases generated in tube 3 passesthrough port 29 to actuate the respective slipper valve 32 and admit thegasses into manifold 9 where they flow through ports 23 and intochambers 20. As soon as the gas pressure in the system is equalized,slipper vlave 32 is closed by spring biased plunger 35 and the gases aretrapped between the curved wall 25 of vane 22 and boss 14 and willinitiate rotation of the rotor 13 carrying the cluster of gun barrels 3.

Once in motion, the volume of the chambers 20 and "19 increases and thepressure of the trapped gases decreases.

Approximately 15 milliseconds later, the barrel 3 shown in position 11will be in position IV and fired. A portion of the gases generated inthis barrel will pass through port 29a and actuate slipper valve 31 andpass into manifold 9 to increase the gas pressure therein and also thechamber system 19 and 20.

When the gas pressure becomes equalized in the cham- Each boss 14 is hersystem 19 and 20, slipper valve plunger 34 under bias.

of spring 36 closes the valve and the gases are again trapped.

These trapped gases continue to release energy until vent 41 in vane 22and to the atmosphere through vent 38 inflange 1-2.

After approximately 30 milliseconds of elapsed time, the barrel 3 shownin position III will be in position II and is fired. A portion of thepowder gases generated in this barrel will pass through port 29b andactuate slipper valve 31, then pass into the manifold 9 and intochambers 20, where they are trapped after the pressure in chambers 19and 20 is equalized when the plunger 34 closes slipper valve 31.

The trapped gases continue to release energy in the chambers 20 untiledge 39 of boss 14 passes edge 40 of housing 11, at which point they arevented through vents 41 and 38 as before.

A large amount of energy is required during the acceleration period atthe start of the burst, and a relatively small amount is required tosustain operation. To accommodate this condition, slipper valve 32 willbe positioned to allow unrestricted flow of powder gases, and slippervalve 31 will be positioned to meter the amount of gases which can flowthrough it.

A modified form of valve arrangement for the gas motor is shown in FIGS.and 6.

In this form the construction of the motor is the same as in FIGS. 1 to4 with the exception that a valve ring 42 is employed instead of slippervalves and a single valve port 43 is provided in rotor 13. (See FIG. 6.)

The valve ring 42 in this embodiment is the equivalent of the rotorshown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the motor is shown in the position for firingafter it has been accelerated to operational speed. At the start of theburst, the barrel 3 shown in position I will be in position IV, and theoperational sequence is as follows:

When the firing circuit (not shown) of the launcher is closed, the round(not shown) in position IV (FIG. 5) is fired. A portion of the powdergas generated in the launcher tube 3 passes through port 44, ring port43 and into the manifold 9, then through ports 28 and into chambers 20.The gases in chambers 20 acting on the vanes 22 and rotor 13 initiaterotation and acceleration for the rotor 13. When edge 44 of port 29passes edge 45 of valve ring port 42, the gases are trapped in manifold9, chambers 19 and 20 until edge 46 of port 29a passes edge 47 in thevalve ring port 43.

At this point the gases in manifold 9, chambers 19 and 20 vent to theatmosphere through the tube 3 in position II.

After approximately milliseconds of elapsed time, the round in barrel 3in position II will be at position V and will be fired. A portion of thepowder gases generated in this barrel passes out of port 29a intomanifold 9 and through the fire ports 28 into the fire chambers Wherethe gases, acting on the vanes 22 and rotor 13 continue the accelerationof the rotor 13. During this portion of the cycle, the pressure patternin the manifold 9 and chambers 19 and 20 will tend to follow thepressure pattern in the barrel 3. The gases continue to accelerate androtate the rotor 13 until edges 39 on boss 14 passes edges 40 on housing11, at which point they are vented to atmosphere through opening 41 invanes 22 and 38 in flange 12.

.After approximately 30 milliseconds of elapsed time, the round (notshown) in barrel 3 in position III is at position II and is fired. Aportion of the powder gases generated in this barrel passes out throughport 48 and into manifold 9 and through ports 28 into chambers 20 wherethe action of the gases maintain rotational speed of the rotor 13.

During this portion of the cycle, the pressure pattern in the manifold 9and chambers 19 and 20 will tend to follow the pressure pattern in tube3 until edges 39 on boss 14 pass edges 40 in the housing 11 at whichpoint the gases in the chambers 20 are vented to atmosphere throughopening 41 in vanes 22 and 38 in flange 12.

The starting position of the weapon for this type of motor is differentfrom the motor with the slipper valves. This condition increases theinitial acceleration required to bring the weapon up to operating speed.At this time, the increase in acceleration is feasible.

Variation and modifications may be effected without departing from thescope of the novel concept of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a powder gas motor for an automatic gun comprising anouter housing, a stationary hous ing within said outer housing, therebeing an annular manifold in said stationary housing, a fixed housing insaid stationary housing, a rotor mounted for rotation within said innerhousing, there being an annular chamber formed between the outerperipheral surface of said rotor and the inner peripheral surface ofsaid fixed housing, a cluster of circularly arranged gun barrelssupported in said rotor for rotation therewith, there being a radiallydisposed port in each said gun barrel and communicating with saidmanifold and a series of symmetrically disposed ports communicatingbetween said manifold and said annular chamber, means dividing saidannular chamber into a series of segmented chambers comprising a seriesof symmetrically spaced bosses integral to the outer peripheral surfaceof said rotor, each said boss having inclined edges, sealing meansbetween the outer face of each said boss and said inner peripheralsurface of said fixed housing comprising a recess in each said boss anda wiper housed in each recess and normally wiping said inner peripheralsurface of said fixed housing and means housed in said'fixed housing foropening and closing said ports'between said manifold and said annularchamber, said last named means being operated by said bosses.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for openingand closing said last named ports comprise a series of symmetricallyspaced recesses in said fixed housing and communicating with said lastnamed ports and said annular chamber, a spring biased vane type valvepivotally mounted in each recess and normally adapted to be in slidingcontact with the outer peripheral surfaces of said rotor and said bosseswhereby when said vane is in contact with the outer peripheral surfaceof said rotor, said last named ports are open and when said vane is incontact with the outer face of said boss and is rotated thereby, saidports are closed.

3.In combination, a powder gas motor for an automatic gun comprising anouter housing, a stationary housing within said outer housing, therebeing an annular manifold in said stationary housing and spaced axiallyfrom said manifold, a rotor mounted for rotation within said innerhousing, a chamber system in said fixed housing, said chamber systemcomprising an annular chamber formed between the outer peripheralsurface of said rotor and the inner peripheral surface of said fixedhousing, a series of symmetrically spaced smaller chambers and a seriesof symmetrically spaced recesses in said fixed housing, a cluster of gunbarrels carried by said rotor, a radial port in each said gun barrelcommunicating with said manifold, a series of symmetrically spaced portscommunicating between said manifold and said smaller chambers in saidchamber system, a series of symmetrically spaced, integral bosses on theouter peripheral surface of said rotor, sealing members housed, oneeach, in a said boss adapted to seal between a said boss and the innerperipheral surface of said fixed housing whereby said chamber system isdivided into divided areas, and spring type vane valves pivotallymounted, one each, in a said recess whereby the capacity of each saiddivided area is regulated upon rotation of said rotor and each said portbetween said manifold and said smaller chambers is closed by action of asaid boss upon a said vane type valve.

4. In combination, a powder gas motor for an automatic gun comprising,an outer housing; a stationary housing in said outer housing, therebeing an annular manifold in said stationary housing; a fixed housing insaid stationary housing; a rotor mounted for rotation in said innerhousing, there being an annular chamber formed between the outerperipheral surface of said rotor and the internal peripheral surface ofsaid fixed housing; a cluster of gun barrels carried by said rotor forrotation therewith; a radially disposed port in each of said gun barrelsand in communication with said manifold and said annular chamber; andmeans carried by said rotor and said fixed housing to seal olT a portionof said annular chamber whereby powder gases generating from said gunbarrels will expand to rotate said rotor, said means comprising a seriesof integral, symmetrically spaced bosses on the outer peripheral surfaceof the rotor and a series of vane type valves housed in the fixedhousing, said valves normally being in continuous sliding contact withthe peripheral surface of said rotor and said bosses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS598,822 Simpson Feb. 8, 1898 2,756,639 Bird July 31, 1956 3,041,939Dardick July 3, 1962

1. IN COMBINATION, A POWDER GAS MOTOR FOR AN AUTOMATIC GUN COMPRISING ANOUTER HOUSING, A STATIONARY HOUSING WITHIN SAID OUTER HOUSING, THEREBEING AN ANNULAR MANIFOLD IN SAID STATIONARY HOUSING, A FIXED HOUSING INSAID STATIONARY HOUSING, A ROTOR MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITHIN SAID INNERHOUSING, THERE BEING AN ANNULAR CHAMBER FORMED BETWEEN THE OUTERPERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID ROTOR AND THE INNER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OFSAID FIXED HOUSING, A CLUSTER OF CIRCULARLY ARRANGED GUN BARRELSSUPPORTED IN SAID ROTOR FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, THERE BEING A RADIALLYDISPOSED PORT IN EACH SAID GUN BARREL AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAIDMANIFOLD AND A SERIES OF SYMMETRICALLY DISPOSED PORTS COMMUNICATINGBETWEEN SAID MANIFOLD AND SAID ANNULAR CHAMBER, MEANS DIVIDING SAIDANNULAR CHAMBER INTO A SERIES OF SEGMENTED CHAMBERS COMPRISING A SERIESOF SYMMETRICALLY SPACED BOSSES INTEGRAL TO THE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACEOF SAID ROTOR, EACH SAID BOSS HAVING INCLINED EDGES, SEALING MEANSBETWEEN THE OUTER FACE OF EACH SAID BOSS AND SAID INNER PERIPHERALSURFACE OF SAID FIXED HOUSING COMPRISING A RECESS IN EACH SAID BOSS ANDA WIPER HOUSED IN EACH RECESS AND NORMALLY WIPING SAID INNER PERIPHERALSURFACE OF SAID FIXED HOUSING AND MEANS HOUSED IN SAID FIXED HOUSING FOROPENING AND CLOSING SAID PORTS BETWEEN SAID MANIFOLD AND SAID ANNULARCHAMBER, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS BEING OPERATED BY SAID BOSSES.